Blank Check with Griffin and David – Episode: "Is This Thing On?"
January 4, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode marks the kickoff of Blank Check’s 11th year. Griffin Newman, David Sims, Marie Barty Salinas, and Ben Hosley gather to discuss Bradley Cooper’s latest directorial effort, Is This Thing On?, a dramedy about a middle-aged man (played by Will Arnett) who turns to stand-up comedy during a divorce. The group explores Cooper's career, the film’s relationship to both real-life comedy scenes and Cameron Crowe’s filmography, and debates the effectiveness of its approach to depicting divorce, comedy, and friendship.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Podcast Banter & Blank Check Traditions

• The episode opens with playful bickering about their intro process, running jokes about Griffin never arriving on time, and Ben’s infamous sandwich. This reflects Blank Check’s signature balance of deep film analysis and personal rapport.
  • “I look over and Ben has magically produced—the largest. It’s fresh out of the microwave. Steam lines coming off of it.” (03:33 — Griffin)
  • The group notes the start of their 11th year, reflecting on the longevity of the show and their changing approaches to miniseries and special episodes.
    • “This is the first episode of our 11th year.” (01:02 – Griffin)

2. General Reactions to Is This Thing On?

• Consensus: The hosts found Is This Thing On? middling and dramatically unfunny, though Bradley Cooper’s supporting turn as “Balls” won consistent praise for comedic energy.
  • “I found it dramatically unfunny…this movie made my skin crawl.” (02:04 — Griffin)
  • “Every single time Balls is on screen, I was laughing. The entire audience was laughing. The rest of the movie was pin drop silent.” (02:41 — Griffin)

3. Bradley Cooper’s Career and “Blank Check” Status

• The episode situates Cooper as a “blank check” filmmaker—a director whose early success (specifically A Star Is Born and Maestro) let him pursue passion projects.
  • Recaps previous Blank Check coverage of Cooper (A Star is Born, Maestro).
  • Griffin expresses concern that this film feels “small” and not up to Cooper’s earlier ambition.
    • “His first two films are the work of a filmmaker-filmmaker…This to me feels like one of those Tribeca movies an actor does as a one-off.” (39:05 — Marie)

4. Cameron Crowe Comparisons and the Search for Emotional Truth

• The hosts continually compare Is This Thing On? to Cameron Crowe, discussing the elusive “Crowe Magic”—emotional, messy human connections and risk-taking sincerity.
  • “This movie has some Cameron Crowe energy…moments I really liked—such as…the Amazing Grace scene where I’m like, I love this.” (43:03 — David)
  • Griffin laments what he sees as the film’s lack of lived-in specificity, particularly compared to classic Crowe.
    • “It feels like a movie about divorce that doesn’t understand people.” (45:51 — Griffin)

5. Authenticity of Stand-Up & New York Comedy Scene

• Significant discussion of how the film portrays stand-up, and how it diverges from the hosts’ actual comedy experiences.
  • Griffin and Ben note the technical inaccuracies—the Comedy Cellar would not be an open mic jump-off for a newcomer, crowds are more hostile, and club mics are more depressing than the film depicts.
    • "[The Comedy Cellar is] one of the hardest places to get passed…it is not a place that has open mics as they show.” (93:06 — Griffin)
  • “No one is that polite in an open mic. And especially that kind of stage.” (75:52 — Griffin)

6. Depiction of Divorce and Character Dynamics

• The panel agrees the film tries to depict a “chiller” divorce (amicable, child-centered, not rooted in betrayal).
  • “It’s a movie about divorce that isn’t about a fight.” (49:59 — Griffin)
  • Marie calls out the vagueness of the characters’ backgrounds and relationship issues:
    • “We get put in media res into that huge problem divorce…we don’t really know why they split up.” (45:56 — Marie)
• The group praises Laura Dern’s performance but laments the film's lack of perspective and missed potential:
  • “If this movie was like, Bradley Cooper has decided to make a film about Laura Dern in middle age…There’s no way you can convince me I won’t eat that shit up.” (48:44 — Griffin)

7. Will Arnett’s Casting & Comedy

• Mixed feelings about Will Arnett in the lead—while he’s a beloved performer, the group questions if he has the depth or vulnerability the role requires.
  • “Is he the right person for this? Can I, like, buy this sort of depth and nuance…?” (115:20 — Griffin)

8. Favorite and Least Favorite Moments

• Everyone enjoyed Cooper’s “Balls” character, Peyton Manning’s surprising cameo (and acting skills), and isolated comedic bits by guest stand-up Jordan Jensen.
  • “I think maybe you’re right, but I do like Bradley as Balls, though.” (52:54 — David)
  • “Peyton Manning playing a character…He impressively plays a guy…realizes halfway in, he’s going to fuck her.” (100:25 — David)
• Strongest emotional reaction: both David and Griffin point to the “Amazing Grace” breakfast scene as a fleeting success at Crowe-style magic.

9. Industry Tangents, Personal Anecdotes & Comedy War Stories

• The crew shares tales of real-world open mic horrors, the dynamics between real comedians, and riffs on their own comedic and podcasting journeys.
  • "I walked off and this…one guy…was like, ‘really, really funny stuff. Excited to see you perform more.’ And then the final comic gets up…just [does] material about pussy juice…And [that guy] is laughing harder than anyone has ever laughed at anything.” (132:31 — Griffin)
• Digressions on the economics and social hierarchies of comedy, the changing landscape post-2010s, and the alienating nature of both the profession and the film’s gentrified, upper-middle-class New York marriages.

10. Future Coverage and Industry News

• Teases upcoming 2026 films they’ll cover (Sam Raimi, Spielberg, M. Night Shyamalan, Danny Boyle, and more).
• Updates on Bradley Cooper’s possible future directing projects, and Hollywood buzz and gossip.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the Film’s Humor:

  • “I found it dramatically unfunny…this movie made my skin crawl.” (02:04 — Griffin)
  • “Every single time Balls is on screen, I was laughing. And at the screening…the entire audience was laughing, and the rest of the movie was pin drop silent.” (02:41 — Griffin)

• On Will Arnett and Bradley Cooper’s Friendship:

  • “The big thing he always cites is that Will Arnett is like one of the first people who helped him get clean…Will Arnett pulled him aside one night and said, like, ‘You know everyone thinks you’re an asshole, right?’” (35:34 — Griffin)

• Cameron Crowe Vibes & Modern Nostalgia:

  • “You’re just like, Jesus fucking Christ. And I think in rewatching the lesser Crows…I have more affection for those moments even when they don’t work…he could identify these incredibly precise, incredibly small moments of humanity…” (44:26 — Griffin)

• On Stand-Up Realism:

  • “No one is that polite in open mic. And especially that kind of stage.” (75:52 — Griffin)
  • “It is a failure of the movie to not depict this…not to see how he is building or developing.” (96:43 — Griffin)

• On Laura Dern’s Role:

  • “She’s doing everything you’re asking her to do here. Well. But you’re really not going to ask her to go deeper than this.” (116:28 — Griffin)
  • “If this movie was about Laura Dern in middle age…former Olympic volleyball player trying to figure out her next move after divorce, I’d be like, ‘There is no way you can convince me I won’t eat that shit up.’” (48:44 — Griffin)

• On Emotional Specificity:

  • “It’s a movie about divorce that doesn’t understand people.” (45:51 — Griffin)
  • “The notion of him delivering [the blown-up volleyball poster] is so bizarre…I wouldn’t even understand what the fuck he was saying.” (113:34 — Griffin)

• Peyton Manning’s Appearance:

  • “He impressively plays a guy who’s just getting a drink with an old friend, realizes halfway into the date, he’s going to fuck her. Great actors could not do what he is doing.” (100:25 — David)

• On Open Mic Culture:

  • “Mitzi Shore was Pauly Shore’s mother…Comedy Store…She’s an LA person. No, [the Comedy Cellar is] one of the hardest places to get passed. It is not a place that has open mics as they show.” (93:06 — Griffin)
  • “Crashing obviously did it best…That was a show where the actor was the correct age for the role.” (94:00 — David)

• On the State of Comedy:

  • “Men will literally do stand up to avoid going to therapy.” (77:55 — Griffin)

Additional Noteworthy Segments

• 37:47 – Marie and Griffin on (re-)assessing Cameron Crowe’s “Aloha” and “Elizabethtown,” and why the Crowe “vibe” is missing from Hollywood.
• 75:55–77:43 – Griffin and Ben detail the realities of New York open mics and how the movie gets things wrong.
• 132:23–134:39 – Griffin’s personal open mic story highlighting the absurd, sad, and sometimes grotesque realities of stand-up’s lower rungs.
• 100:26–102:34 – Peyton Manning’s acting gets dissection, including his SNL context and his scene-stealing performance.

Episode Structure & Flow

• Opening: Banter, intros, jokes about podcasting process (00:01–05:00)
• Film introduction & reactions: (“not a laugh riot,” “unfunny,” love for “Balls”) (02:00–07:00)
• Long digression: cheesesteaks, Philadelphia, and the logistics of the Cooper pop-up (04:08–15:00)
• Blank Check traditions, explanation of Cooper’s trajectory (20:04–25:46)
• Analysis: film vs. reality of stand-up, deep-dive into comedy club accuracy, mechanics of open mics (69:00–80:00)
• Discussions of divorce, relationships, Cameron Crowe “magic,” and movie’s shortcomings (40:00–50:00, 45:55–52:00, 107:22–114:26)
• Peyton Manning’s cameo and performance (101:00–104:00)
• Deep-dive: arcs of side characters, friendships, missed opportunities (116:59–119:43)
• Lightning Round: other favorite standup comedies, “what gets it right” (128:21–129:13)
• Extended outros and digressions about family, future coverage, and “Wizard of Oz” commentary plans (137:07–end)

Conclusion

Is This Thing On? is received as a minor, messy Bradley Cooper “hangout”/breakup film, uninspired in both its depiction of New York stand-up and intimate marital struggles. The group finds flashes of charm and humor—especially in Cooper’s supporting role—but ultimately laments a lack of emotional specificity and the missed opportunity to channel the best of Cameron Crowe or the real-life complexities of comedy and human connection. The episode is loaded with Blank Check’s characteristic tangents, deep industry and cultural knowledge, and digressive, affectionately competitive energy.

Recommended Listen Segments

• 02:41–02:52 – Griffin & David on "Balls" and crowd response
• 40:26–45:00 – Cameron Crowe parallels and “Crowe magic” in filmmaking
• 75:52–77:55 – Griffin & Ben on comedy club and open mic realism
• 100:25–101:53 – Peyton Manning’s cameo and Laura Dern’s scene
• 132:23–134:39 – Griffin’s classic open mic horror story

Tone:
Witty, self-referential, occasionally caustic, always deeply knowledgeable—balancing dense film analysis and bantering friendship, with a penchant for film-critic inside jokes and generational nostalgia.

Summary Prepared by:
Blank Check Podcast Summarizer, January 2026